SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSET-AGNOSTIC WIRELESS MONITORING AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE OF DEPLOYED ASSETS

• US 20180213375A1
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Published: 07/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Washington University
• Original Assignee: George Washington University
• Inventors: ROBERTS, Connor, SHITTU, Ekundayo
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for asset monitoring utilize a network, one or more data servers, one or more asset-monitoring modules, and one or more beacon modules to monitor assets deployed across a facility. The systems and methods are asset-agnostic and are able to provide statistical forecasts and degradation model for each asset monitored. The systems and methods may further apply real-time regression, including Bayesian updating techniques to provide real-time corrections to forecasts and degradation models.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for monitoring an asset, comprising:

one or more asset-monitoring module for monitoring the asset and providing monitored data; and

a processing device receiving the monitored data and running a data analysis algorithm, wherein said data analysis algorithm constructs a statistical model of performance for one or more assets to be monitored, constructs a degradation model for the one or more assets that predicts maintenance requirements and off-line statuses for said assets, and applies Bayesian updating to perform real-time corrections in the statistical and degradation models;

wherein the system is asset-agnostic, supporting multiple types and brands of assets and such that the performance of the one or more assets can be managed and monitored in real-time.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein one or more asset-monitoring modules comprise a tag module and a plug module.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the asset-monitoring modules operate on dual-band frequencies and/or RFID.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein asset-monitoring modules are comprised of a plurality of sensors that monitor environmental conditions, operational conditions, and usage information related to the one or more assets.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising one or more beacon modules, wherein the beacon modules are configured to provide spatial location data on a plurality of assets.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising an equipment management dashboard that shows a user alerts and recommendations related to the one or more assets.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 6, wherein the user is an operator or a manager, and wherein the dashboard displays different alerts and recommendations on said classification of the user.

8. A computer-implemented method for monitoring an asset, comprising the steps of:

monitoring, at one or more asset-monitoring modules, an asset;

providing monitored data to a processing device;

receiving the monitored data at the processing device; and

running a data analysis algorithm, wherein said data analysis algorithm constructs a statistical model of performance for one or more assets to be monitored, constructs a degradation model for the one or more assets that predicts maintenance requirements and off-line statuses for said assets, and applies Bayesian updating to perform real-time corrections in the statistical and degradation models;

wherein the method is asset-agnostic, supporting multiple types and brands of assets and such that the performance of the one or more assets can be managed and monitored in real-time.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein one or more asset-monitoring modules comprise a tag module and a plug module.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the asset-monitoring modules operate on dual-band frequencies and/or RFID.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein asset-monitoring modules are comprised of a plurality of sensors that monitor environmental conditions, operational conditions, and usage information related to the one or more assets.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising one or more beacon modules, wherein the beacon modules are configured to provide spatial location data on a plurality of assets.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising an equipment management dashboard that shows a user alerts and recommendations related to the one or more assets.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the user is an operator or a manager, and wherein the dashboard displays different alerts and recommendations on said classification of the user.

15. A method for detecting asset location comprising the steps of:

detecting, at a first asset-monitoring module, the altitude of a first asset;

detecting, at a second asset-monitoring module, the altitude of a second asset;

comparing the altitude of the altitude of the first asset against the altitude of the second asset;

comparing the altitude of the altitude of the first asset against the altitude of a beacon module; and

comparing the altitude of the altitude of the second asset against the altitude of a beacon module;

wherein, the results of the comparisons are used to determine the floor on which the first and second assets reside.

16. A computer-implemented system for monitoring one or more assets, comprising:

one or more asset-monitoring module for monitoring the asset and providing monitored data comprising current and voltage data; and

a processing device receiving the monitored data and running a data analysis algorithm, wherein said data analysis algorithm constructs a statistical model of performance for one or more assets to be monitored, wherein said model predicts the current mode of operation of the asset;

wherein the system is asset-agnostic, supporting multiple types and brands of assets and such that the performance of the one or more assets can be managed and monitored in real-time.